Jaguar planning V8 XE-R to compete with BMW M3 & AMG C 63

Mercedes AMG and BMW M, watch your backs, because the Jaguar XE-R is coming for you. Yep, Jaguar is reportedly planning high-potency XE formula to take on the popular Germans.

Jaguar has been on quite the roll in recent months, riding on the success of its recently released F-Type, the new XE, and second-generation XF. The British company is also preparing a flash new SUV called the F-Pace, which will arrive on the market next year.

Keen to one-up the Germans, Jaguar will reportedly take on the likes of the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C 63 by installing its 5.0-litre supercharged V8 into the new mid-sized sedan. An Autocar report says power output will be levelled off at around 364kW, as seen in the F-Type V8 S.

The XE-R is also set to receive adaptive dampers borrowed from the F-Type S, and a revised version of the eight-speed ZF transmission. With this combination, and a tight rear-wheel drive setup, the sports sedan is expected to top 0-100km/h in under 5.0 seconds.

If that’s not good enough, there is also talk of a special SVR variant being planned for further down the track, potentially coming equipped with the company’s flagship 404kW V8. An SVR version would likely showcase a number of unique high-performance components compared with the XE-R.

The XE-R will help bolster Jaguar’s lineup, in much the same way AMG and M-series variants boost a model and brand’s desirability. The regular Jaguar XE range will land in Australia by August later this year. Prices are yet to be announced.

Alexi is a contributing news journalist and junior road tester at PerformanceDrive. He has a passion and appreciation for the engineering in cars, as well as new technologies that lessen the impact on the environment. His dream cars are an M3 to drive to work, and a LaFerrari for the weekend.